Issue - meetings

Emergency Funding Criteria Revision

Robert Mee (Interim Voluntary & Community
Sector Team Manager) presented the report. He highlighted the three
main proposed changes to the eligibility criteria in respect
of:

•the need for organisations based in
Council buildings to have appropriate premises agreements.

•recipients indebted to the Council.

•
The new time limited revised criteria, to allowing groups in
receipt of Council MSG funding in the previous two years to be able
to receive emergency funding

•to facilitate the move from the MSG to
the LCF.

In addition a new time limited revision to the
criteria around the change from Mainstream Grants (MSG) to the
Local Community Fund (LCF) was presented.

He outlined the key features of the proposed
time limited
criteria, to support organisations experiencing issues
arising from the end of the MSG. He outlined the type of issues
which would be taken into account in considering if an organisation
met the criteria for this funding.

The Chair of the Grants Scrutiny Sub –
Committee reported feedback on their consideration of the report.
The Sub – Committee welcomed the changes in principle and
sought assurances regarding the adequacy of the review period

The GSSC also discussed the impact of the move
to the new LCF on the emergency fund given the possibility that it
might lead to an increase in applications for funding. The
Committee were mindful of the pressures this might place on the
fund and the opportunity costs of the proposals in terms of leaving
a shortage of funding for other groups facing ‘life and
limb’ emergency situations. The Sub – Committee
endorsed the report.

Councillor Ronald then invited GDSC Members to
comment on the report. In response to questions, it was confirmed
that the applications for the transitional funding would be
considered on their own merit against the funding criteria. The
sort of issues that might qualify an organisation for the funding
included serious viability issues related to the move to the
LCF.

Regarding the process for prioritising
applications, given the budget restraints, it was noted that
Officers were working with the organisations such as the TH CVS to
provide support to unsuccessful LCF applicants and also identify
alternative funding options. The nature
of the type of support that would be offered was noted. Officers
were mindful of the issues around increasing the amount of money in
the emergency budget given this may change the nature of the
funding. It was felt important to ensure it remained a source of
emergency funding. The GDSC supported this point regarding the need
for the budget to be reserved for emergencies rather than become
another source of funding.

DECISION:

1. That the
revised criteria for the Emergency Funding be agreed as detailed in
paragraphs 3.5 to 3.12 and appendix A of this Report.

Minutes:

Robert Mee (Interim Voluntary & Community
Sector Team Manager) presented the report. He highlighted the three
main proposed changes to the eligibility criteria in respect
of:

•the need for organisations based in
Council buildings to have appropriate premises agreements.

•recipients indebted to the Council.

•
allowing groups in receipt of Council funding in the previous two
years to be able to be able to receive emergency funding

In addition a new time limited revision to the
criteria around the change from Mainstream Grants (MSG) to the
Local Community Fund (LCF) was presented.

He outlined the key features of the proposed
time limited
criteria, to support organisations experiencing issues
arising from the end of the MSG. He outlined the type of issues
which would be taken into account in considering if an organisation
met the criteria for this funding.

The Chair of the Grants Scrutiny Sub –
Committee reported feedback on their consideration of the report.
The Sub – Committee welcomed the changes in principle and
sought assurances regarding the adequacy of the review period

The GSSC also discussed the impact of the move
to the new LCF on the emergency fund given the possibility that it
might lead to an increase in applications for funding. The
Committee were mindful of the pressures this might place on the
fund and the opportunity costs of the proposals in terms of leaving
a shortage of funding for other groups facing ‘life and
limb’ emergency situations. The Sub – Committee
endorsed the report.

Councillor Ronald then invited GDSC Members to
comment on the report. In response to questions, it was confirmed
that the applications for the transitional funding would be
considered on their own merit against the funding criteria. The
sort of issues that might qualify an organisation for the funding
included serious viability issues related to the move to the
LCF.

Regarding the process for prioritising
applications, given the budget restraints, it was noted that
Officers were working with the organisations such as the TH CVS to
provide support to unsuccessful LCF applicants and also identify
alternative funding options. The nature
of the type of support that would be offered was noted. Officers
were mindful of the issues around increasing the amount of money in
the emergency budget given this may change the nature of the
funding. It was felt important to ensure it remained a source of
emergency funding. The GDSC supported this point regarding the need
for the budget to be reserved for emergencies rather than become
another source of funding.

RESOLVED:

1. That the
revised criteria for the Emergency Funding be agreed as detailed in
paragraphs 3.5 to 3.12 and appendix A of this Report.